charlie
 

That exactly what big red did when took the triple hardest test of all and in grand style.In bel dominate early and closer all in same race

Joe Hirsch was one among all of those horsemen who relegated superlatives to the farthest reaches of their vocabulary only to bring them to bear when they were really relevant. I recall when discussing Cougar II with Whittingham they referred to him as a "useful" horse and left it at that. Here he is talking to Lauren about the Triple crown races of 1973. Few rational informed individuals owning even a smattering of historical perspective could rationally dispute what is printed here. Then there are the comments of horsemen Hollie Hughes who actually saw the greatest ones of the century. Ask HIM where this one belongs on that scale...just read down the page.

http://books.google.ca/books?id=JbJc...um=4&ct=result

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/trainer.asp?ID=256

"He has a neck like a buffalo, a back as broad as a sofa," Time magazine reported. But Newsweek sports columnist Pete Axthelm, who never saw a racetrack he did not wish to attend, glided across the typing turf.
"Secretariat generates a crackling tension and excitement wherever he goes," Axthelm wrote. "Even in the kind of gray weather that shrouds lesser animals in anonymity, Secretariat's muscular build identifies him immediately; his glowing reddish coat is a banner of health and rippling power. Magnificent enough at rest ... when he accelerates ... he produces a breathtaking explosion that leaves novices and hardened horsemen alike convinced that, for one of those moments that seldom occur in any sport, they have witnessed genuine greatness."
While Axthelm was waxing poetic, pithy New York Post columnist Larry Merchant (now better known as HBO's sharp-tongued boxing analyst) clicked off his words in Broadway staccato:

"Secretariat," said Merchant, "is the kind of Big Horse that makes grown men weep, even when they are flint-hearted bettors, even when he goes off at 1-10. He is the apparently unflawed hunk of beauty and beast they search for doggedly in the racing charts every day, and never seemed to find. His supporters rhapsodize over him as though he is a four-legged Nureyev, extolling virtues of his musculature, his grace, his urine specimens." If he were to lose the Belmont, Merchant warned, "the country may turn sullen and mutinous."

Some more comments by people who know and were there
 

The true measure of Secretariat's greatness was his performances in big races. As former Pimlico general manager Chick Lang said, "He looked like a Rolls-Royce in a field of Volkswagens."
"I kept hearing Chick Anderson," Turcotte said. "I finally had to turn to see where the other horses were. I know this sounds crazy, but the horse did it by himself. I was along for the ride."

But most impressive was the 31-length gap. It was so big, even the widest angle of the CBS camera covering the stretch run could barely show Secretariat in the same shot as the next-nearest horse, Twice A Prince. As Charles Hatton wrote in The Daily Racing Form, "His only point of reference is himself."

"Secretariat's greatness is measured not by who was around at the time, but by the performances of all who came before him and have come since. and by that standard only a few in history are anywhere close."

http://www.racingpost.com/


Does this achievement make Kauto Star the "Best" Chaser, the "Greatest" Chaser ??

No


It does however confirm what people already knew and just like Arkle, Moscow Flyer, Best Mate, Desert Orchid were, Kauto Star is a good Chaser

Charlie, do you know anything about TIME magazine?
On the front cover of the June 11, 1973 issue TIME Magazine saw fit to put a picture of SECRETARIAT. Other than the picture, there are simply the words "SUPER HORSE" Secretariat. (I doubt that Kauto Star or any other horse you can find will make the cover of TIME Magazine anytime soon.) The cover of TIME Magazine is generally reserved for heads of state, but this one time even TIME Magazine had to relent and put a picture of the GREATEST HORSE OF ALL TIME on the cover.

FTL, we are going round in circles

Time Magazine = thought and opinion

Race or series of race results = reality

No race or races can be run between ALL these good horses, so no reality exists and therefore no one can truly say who was, is the Greatest or the Horse of The Century

What decides who is the Top 3yo each year ? the reality of the race results decide , not our thought or opinion

Time Newsweek and Sports Illustrated all the same week. NO OTHER ATHLETE human or equine has ever done that

Breeders ot thoroughbreds have been a good deal closer to producing a truly faultless creature than the breeders of humans. in this century, there have been, in very general terms, four such horses: Man O'War, Secretariat, Ribot and possibly Sea Bird II.
p.17 Patrick Robinson Decade of Champions

"And one name will always stand shining above the rest, the horse that started excellence in the United States...he had convinced most experts at the end of 1973 that he was possibly the infest thoroughbred race horse who ever lived.For those who followed his career closely, the passing of the years seems only to magnify his massive presence on the race track p. 35 'even now, undimmed by the terrifying swiftness of time, it is possible in a fleeting second to recall those majesty of that fabulous race horse- his collossal stride, his huge girth, those steel tempered front legs smashing down on the track, the pitiful sight of some many splendid horses lurching along in his wake, utterly demoralized by a power and furn unmatched in loving memory on any race track."

Eddie Maple recalls page 37. "There are still a few 'experts' who doubt him, who say he never really did enough to justify all the praise he received. I know he was the best.Since the day he retired, you can take any horse race you like, and Secretariat would have won it easily. And I will say one more thing. Of those critics who doubt Secretariat, not one of them ever rode him. They sure as hell never rode him."

Ask the people who know, who were there and have enough knowledge experience expetise to qualify as experts and they all agree: he was like no other.

That year was the inaugural running of the Marlboro cup. A championship race for the best horses including the older ones on the grounds. The war horses. Secretariat was still only three and had gotten beaten by some of these at Saratoga and in rain soaked conditions elsewhere. He was again susceptible for getting beat. So what does he do? He runs down older stablemate Riva Ridge and they run one two as Secretariat breaks a world record for 1 1/8 miles. The blue and white checkered colors of Penny Tweedy and the Meadow stable was exhilarating to watch as they flickered in the light going one two under the wire like that.

The breeders who put up the six million then wanted one more test for their prize investment. Turf or grass racing. Could Secretariat grass as well? Again, he goes against the best older turf horses in the world who are seasoned in their specialty of turf racing. So what does he do? He steps on the grass for the very first time and destroys the finest grass runners around. Every time, Secretariat was suspect or on the line where he was under the gun to perform, he performed. He proved all the doubters wrong and confirmed what his people were saying all along. Ron Turcotte, his regular rider was just as shy as trainer Laurin in telling the world what they had.

http://www.helium.com/items/126903-s...se-ever?page=2

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...cretariat.html



http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1119287
The Case for Secretariat

Secretariat won the Triple Crown and made more than a million dollars. His contribution to horse racing is great. He inspired many horse racers and became a racing icon. To many, horse racing is embodied by Secretariat. He is well known today in a way that Man o' War is not.

Secretariat outperformed everyone at the time. Each time he lost, he had a legitimate excuse and later would win against the opponent he lost to. They were simply flukes. His ability to race is incredible, and he never faultered.

The Case for Man o' War

Man o' War simply maintained a better record than Secretariat. They both raced 21 times, and Man o' War only lost once. Secretariat lost four times. Man o' War set three world records to Secretariat's two. Man o' War Stakes was named for him.

He helped restart horse racing when the nation was focusing on World War One. His contribution to the sport is great, and it brought a good deal of attention to the sport of kings. Other than his direct contributions, his blood is in more than 60 Stake winners, including War Admiral, a Triple Crown winner.